There's nothing like German engineering, especially when it goes into some of the finest cars in the world. The country's cars are legendary both on and off the track, and it's a dream of many to own a German sports car and test its capabilities on the Autobahn. But even if you don't own a Porsche, you can see how they're made and maybe even take a test drive at two of the company's factories in Germany. The Porsche Factory Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, just minutes from Le Méridien Stuttgart, has 20 or so constantly-rotating exhibits featuring the legends of Porsche history. Exhibits include a 1948 Porsche 356 - an air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe that was the first to bear the Porsche name - as well as the Porsche 911, another classic that remains one of today's most sought-after vehicles. Over in the city of Leipzig, meanwhile, guests at the Westin Leipzig Hotel and the Hotel Fuerstenhof can gear up for tours of the facility that produces the Cayenne. The 1.5-hour Porsche Leipzig factory tour takes visitors through every aspect of the production process, including the famous "wedding" of the engine and the chassis. And while it's interesting to see how a Porsche is made, it's even better to drive one. The Porsche Leipzig Pilot program enables aspiring race car drivers to get behind the wheel of a Cayenne, 911, Boxster, or Cayman and take a few laps around the test track. Professional driving instructors will teach you the proper methods of slalom, braking, and evading, which might come in handy on the way to the grocery store some day. It's best to be prepared.
